- 200,000 bags of maize were released to fight rising prices and stop a possible shortage.
- Subsidised maize is being sold at Ksh 4,250 per 90kg bag in selected depots.
- Millers must meet strict rules, pay 25% first, and show proof of flour distribution.
- Distribution already started in places like Eldoret and Moi’s Bridge.
- The government also allows 5.5 million bags of yellow maize to help ease white maize pressure.
The government has now moved in to ease maize prices after growing worry over limited supply. Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe announced that 200,000 bags of subsidised maize have been released to millers under tough regulations.
The maize, taken from the National Strategic Grain Reserve, is being sold at Ksh 4,250 per 90kg bag through selected depots across the North and South Rift.
Kagwe explained that only registered millers or groups with full documentation will benefit from this offer. Millers must show proof of milling capacity, tax compliance, KEBS certification, and incorporation status.
To access the maize, millers must pay 25% upfront, then provide proof of flour production and delivery before the remaining 75% is issued. They also have to submit a report showing how the maize was used before their last payment is accepted.
“Millers should collect, process, and release the flour to the market immediately after paying,” Kagwe instructed.
Distribution Begins as Imports Get Green Light
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) started receiving payments on May 22, and full-scale distribution kicked off from May 26, 2025.
So far, key depots like Eldoret and Moi’s Bridge have begun dispatching the subsidised maize.
This move is part of a broader strategy to ease pressure on food prices. To balance things further, the government has also approved the importation of 5.5 million bags of yellow maize, mostly for animal feed, to reduce the strain on white maize.
The Agriculture Ministry hopes this double move — local release and imports — will help cool down the market and ensure a steady supply of maize flour in the coming weeks.
